The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-25

| ouo eHo "oS "oIudu DTOugnb up IN the
old New England fashion, to do what she
perceived to be duty, however unpIea-
SAINT and painful, without shrinking
or complaint; and she had made up
her mind that it was her duty to help the
Potters.
She missed the fresh air of the farm,
the quiet OF her own house, the new milk,
the sweet butter, the good bread; but she
said nothing as she sat day after day, in
her window knitting or mending, her big
Bible open on the stand, and her
thoughts very busy with the things
around her, as we'll as with the things
that are above. For Aunt Pratt had
made resolution to leave her money in
the way it would do her relatives the
most good, and she must study them and
their customs before she could discover
what that way was. She soon found
out that they were always in debt. Potter
had good wages, Lottie and Tom were
off his hands, Ida had only her board
given her, and Davy was inheritor to
Toms old clothes and his fathers, too.
1t seemed to Aunt Pratt that there must
be leak somewhere that she did not dis
cover at once.
She was reading her Bible by course,
and one day came upon verse in the
prophecy Of Haggai that seemed to ex-
plain the situation to her and opened her
eyes. The next day Lofty came in shiv-
ering; she had caught severe cold and
huddled over the cook-stove wrapped in
an old shawl, coughed and sighed and
scolded all day, till she was too hoarse to
speak.
"Have you got on your winter fan
nels," asked Aunt Pratt, for it was now
November.
"Flannels? guess not. haven't got
any"
"Why, Lottyp
swell, poor folks can't have everything.
I'd got to have winter suit and there
was such lovely one at the Boston
store, a satin petticoat with drapings of
camels-hair Imitation mean, but aw-
fully pretty-and real splendid basque,
with satin vest and gilt buttons, only
twenty dollars, tell you, Aunt Pratt it
was swell and no mistake; but /
couldn't afford soft hannels after that"
SIS it thick dress" queried Aunt
Pratt.
mo, not so very; not SO thick as this
shop dress; but I don't mind that. I
amt cold blooded."
"And your shoes, are they thickp"
"Oh, they're just cheap boots; thick
soles do cost so. My best ones are
French kid with lovely high heels. They
can't have thick soles.
"And have you got warm petticoat?"
"Mercy! don't want to be ell hump
ed up with things. I've got al old felt
skirt, a cambria for every day, and four
white ones trimmed with edging."
Aunt Pratt shook her head.
"a hole in the bag! A hole in the bagr'
she sad sadly.
"Why, wb&s upon."-but fit of cough
ing stopped the words and left Lotty's
chest so sore she did not finish her ques-
ton.
She was so i'll that night doctor was
sent for "a young man round the COR
ner, just beginning practice, therefore
cheaper than q man Of experience. He
at once proceeded to blister his patient
and give her antimony. Low delirium
set in and for six weeks Lofty was unable
to leave her bed, and for a month more
she could not go to work. Bills came in
to twice the amount of the blue dress
price. and could not be paid.
"Oh, what a hole in the bagP' sighed
Aunt Pratt.
When Lofty was little better, her
father came in one noon with hand bill
| given to him in the street-a flaming ad-
vertisement of the "Black Crook" per-
Torrance.
"Say, Lou, don't you want to go TO this
tonight? It's month O. Sundays since
we've had lark; let's co." he said toss
ing the play bill into his wife's lap.
"Ob, pa" screamed Idalla, "take me.
Oh, do! Now won't you?
an me too" screamed Davy who had
a hoarse cold.
"Oh, shut up" snapped Potter. II
don't want two babies faggin' at my
heels. Somebody's got to stay with
Lott"
"Why; there's Aunt Pratt" said Ida.
"Maybe she'd like to go; would you
Aunty?" asked Potter blandly. He had
a mind to keep the right side of woman
with "means."
"MeP said the old lady with stern re-
proof in her voice and face. "Me go to
such place? No, indeedP
"Well, well! everybody to their mind.
like a bit of fun first rate, now and
then. We go quite considerable first
and last; body must be amused"
20, fatherr' put in Mrs. Potter. urged
by the whispered teasing and cross faces
of Ida and Dsvy, "do take them children
along; Ida hasn't been nowhere since
Lott was took sick, and Davy's only q
boy. Let him have a good time while he
can; his troubles will come fast enough
before long. Now do let EN- CO."
"Well, / guess they can. Lott won't
xvapf taoo ~ Amt prafk,o hara